Testimonials

Nicky & Akubra 2010

To all those lost souls out there looking for individual, hands on and up-lifting Training/Breaking/Re Education.....
LOOK NO FURTHER!!!

I came to Mark so scared of my filly, it was pathetic. I was ready to sell her. She busted my knee to the point of surgery, countless blood noses and not to forget the concussions.
I have never had such a young horse before, always older and somewhat educated. This was such a shock to the system. I asked Mark to do what he thought was nessary to make her manageable.
Here I was thinking whips, boots and fists being slapped in to her, as you hear of most trainers. The complete opposite in fact.
For the size of a man that Mark is, he has such a magnificent, gentle loving way of doing what he does.
And lets not forget Amanda. Easily one of the most lovely ladies I have ever met. Everything that she does, you can be assured that it's the best. This man does not have idiots working for him.
Mark and Amanda were riding her in a couple of weeks, just for her to get the feel. A big reason why I love Mark's methods so much, he doesn't push to the point of hate from the horse. My filly was hanging on his every command, wanting to please him. It really was beautifull and amazing to watch and be a part of.
Mark has changed my life, and how I look at things and do things with all my horses now.
Thank you to Mark and Amanda.

Kristy & Petie 2010

I have known mark for many years as my farrier and as a friend. I recently just bought my second horse "Petie", a five year old bit of everything. Petie had only been ridden a couple of times in his life, so I took him to Mark to be re-educated.
In the beginning, Petie was a pain in the bumb, but everytime I went to see him I saw improvements.
At the same time Petie was being trainned, I was also being trained and was always learning new things. Mark trains your horse and at the same time involves you in everything.
Petie is now my dream horse, he behaves himself when I go riding and it is all thanks to Mark and not to forget Amanda.
I reccommend Mark to any horse person having problems or wanting to learn new things with horses.
Thanks guys you've done an excellent job.

Cara & Piccolo 2009

Eight weeks ago I reluctantly took my unbroken Spanish horse, Piccolo, to a "breaker". Unknown to me, with no previous dealings, no referrals and no idea who I was dealing with, I contacted Mark Jones. I was unable to take my horse any further and had run into difficulty............
Feeling like an idiot and having no choice but to hand my "baby" over to one of those horse breakers (and a western rider at that) I phoned Marelle Lodge.

I spoke to Mark on the phone, he said bring him over. I loaded up and Pic and I went to Marelle Lodge. I handed my horse to Mark, felt sick, and freaked out about all the terrible things that were going to happen at the hands of a horse breaker. (Previous shocking experience with other so called horse breakers.)
Mark made me a coffee and attempted to put me at ease about my horse and how he could help. I still felt sick. I went home feeling like I had just betrayed my best friend.

An always open door, no secret behind closed doors training and an always ready to listen and help attitude and some really great horsemanship started to change my mind a little. I spent a lot of time at Marelle Lodge whilst Pic was there. I was always made welcome, and in fact encouraged to participate and watch. "Team effort mate" were words that came from Mark alot. The more time I spent, the more I saw that no bad things were happening, calm, trust and a slow and methodical training method were being used. My horse was not the only one being trained. I have learned more from Mark in the past eight weeks than I have in a long time with horses over the years. I was perhaps more difficult to handle at times than my horse, yet some how we have both come out of this fantastic experience better, more trusting and with some great new education and thoughts on training. He knows his stuff.

Pic looked very well looked after at all times, never like he had been having a hard time, was very well fed, had every care taken of him, and appeared to be enjoying his stay.

One problem I have found with Mark is that my horse is more fond of him that me now !!!!!!!!! What pleases me about this is that clearly he has earned the respect and trust of my horse, there is no fear or worry in Pics' eyes and he is more than happy to obey every command given by Mark.

I cannot recommend Mark Jones enough, I will continue to train with him after Pic comes home, and have been made to feel like there is an ongoing partnership with my horse and my training and that help is always there if I need it. I will also use Mark to train myself and my other horses and this is a REALLY big call for a dressage rider to train with a western reining cowboy !!

PS Please ask Mark about the Wranglers, the Spanish horse and the round yard.

Vanessa & Jay 2009

He was black with a white star . . . just like her . . and thats all it took to convince me that jay could fill the gaping whole in my heart and my life that was left by the sudden death of my pony Rosie. I hastily purchased him, a 15.2 hh quaterhorse cross appaloosa gelding, 5 yrs old, schooled in western apperantly but out of work for 12 months . . . . perfect! Five days later and one trainer bucked off declaring him a mouthless bronco, I couldnt believe what was happening . . . i had purchased a horse i was afraid to ride!. Feeling like a bit of a fool but determined not to sell him on, i scanned the internet for a solution . . . thats when i found Mark. The amazing testamonials on Marks website really gave me faith in his ability and after explaining my situation, I confidently left Jay in Marks hands. After only a couple of days with Jay, Mark confirmed that Jay had never been broken in properly . . .if at all . . and really needed to be started from scratch.. . so thats where he began.

8 weeks later, I could never imagine owning a more responsive, well mannered, patient and level headed horse than the one Mark has created for me. Jay is the perfect gentleman . . his mouth is as soft as butter, he responds not only to the lightest leg aids and stops with the most responsive brakes I have ever experienced on any horse in my 20 years of riding, he also reponds to voice aids just as willingly . . . and the most amazing new thing for me . . . parking . . I have never had a horse that stands so still to mount or dismount or just stand around on . .Its fantastic!!

I was very privileged to be able to attend several of Jays training sessions during his stay at Marelle Lodge and watch Mark working his magic. He explained everything he was doing with Jay and the reason behind all the different training procedures he was performing which made me feel very well informed and confident I would be able to understand every button I needed to push with Jay when It was time for me to take over. It was wonderful to watch Marks calm and gentle approach to training, gaining Jays absolute attention whilst teaching him without ever compromising his trust. . . he truly is a gifted horseman who shares a uniqure connection with the horses he trains.

I cant thank Mark enough for the pleasure he has bought me through creating a horse that is an absolute delight to own in every way. I never thought I would regain the confidence and trust I shared with Rosie with another horse . . . Mark has made that possible and I am absolutely in love with my new horse.

Thanks Mark and Michelle and family for taking such great care of Jay during his stay with you, it was an absolute pleasure to have met you all . . including Hug and Stormy of course - and I can't speak highly enough of Marelle Lodge and the wonderful service you provide.

Sally & Cryztal 2009

I was going no where; I bought Cryztal (6 month old mare) mainly for a paddock mate to my older Gelding. My friends suggested I get a younger horse to break in myself and enjoy when my older horse need to be retired.

After attending a number of Horse Clinics, I came away believing I could do this. It wasn’t until I ended up in hospital, after Cryztal ran me through an electric fence and impaled me to a star picket, I then realized the danger and naivety involved.

This accident really damaged the relationship between Cryztal and me –we didn’t trust each other –which made things worse.

I was on the verge of selling Cryztal when I was given a business card for Mark Jones Training, and he came recommended from a friend who had had wonderful results.

I originally took my horse up to Mark for a riding lesson, from the moment I begin to mount Cryztal to ride, Mark picked up that my horse was not safe and required education. I agreed to leave her in Marks care; I drove away feeling a little anxious.

This was the best decision I ever made, Cryztal is a new horse, confident, willing and very light horse in the mouth and leg aids. Basically I have a stronger base to work with and develop. Mark was always happy for me to come and watch him train, which was a great opportunity to learn and understand.

Cryztal was very well looked after during her stay at Marks and was very much spoiled and treated like one of the family.

Mark not only has trained my horse, he has also trained me, in understanding cues and better riding technique, especially in new disciplines of Western Riding.

I will continue with lessons and clinics to support the work Mark has put into Cryztal into developing a stronger safer relationship with my horse.

Joanne & Fen 2009

My 5yo gelding had been standing in a paddock for over 12 months, having been started by a trainer and returned to me at a level that I was unable to continue with. I am a rider and horse owner/breeder of some 35 years experience, but am now at a stage where I have to look after myself a little, and Fen was simply not at a level of communication that I was able to handle. After the Feb 7 bushfires in our area, which this lovely horse survived, I felt I had to give him a new start and find someone who could take him to a stage where I could confidently continue with his progress. Fortunately, an internet search found Mark’s website and I spoke to him about the prospects of giving Fen a new foundation. I can recommend Mark’s work and believe that he is both a talented and insightful trainer of horses, and a good communicator with his customers. I am delighted to say that Fen is now at a stage where he is making real progress on a weekly basis, is more confident to handle and ride, and is much clearer in the basics upon which I can build.

Kate Bakker & Ellie 2009

I got mark to break in my pony Ellie who is 14.1. All I wanted was a horse to go trail riding on that was safe and clam, but after a few weeks with Mark she was doing a lot more than any other green horse I had ridden. As I was riding her mark would always offer advice, so I learnt along with the horse. Ellie is so quiet and has never put a foot wrong since Mark broke her in. Thanks Mark :)

Jona Segal

Mark is without doubt the first person I always turn to with any issue relating to my horses, whether it be shoeing my Appaloosa that no one else wanted to touch or refining their ‘manners’ with some simple techniques that I can then follow up with. With Mark you get someone who treats your horses with the same love and respect you would treat them with yourself while still managing to educate horse and rider in a way that leaves you both feeling confident, happy and eager to learn more.

He is someone that truly loves his horses, is great at what he does and will always be my first point of contact for shoeing, education or just a good old fashioned bush bash on a weekend.

Keely & Pepper June 2009

Sometimes in life we get the opportunity to meet special people who can really make a difference. Mark and his family are some of these people. He has a calm confident way of dealing with horses and stressed/nervous owners who have come to him for help.

My 9 year old daughter, Keely, found Mark by stumbling across his website. A couple of years ago Keely had been given a one year old unhandled young welsh pony that needed a loving home. Before we decided to take the pony, my husband and I gave this a lot of thought deciding that this would be an enormous, rewarding life experience for Keely as she has been fanatical about horses from the ripe old age of 2. Although Keely has been riding for a few years at a riding school, she was still inexperienced and had to step out of her comfort zone to do some real riding.

We found the whole experience to be an enormous learning curve which was extremely enjoyable.  It was great how Mark got us so involved working with Keely and Pepper encouraging us to visit every day. Mark showed an incredible amount of patience, perseverance and encouragement with Keely - she was extremely shy, nervous and sometimes really stubborn. We had some up and down days with smiles and sometimes tears, but we got through it in the end.

I can’t thank you enough Mark you have done a brilliant job with Pepper; we are over the moon on how she has turned out. I also want to thank you for all the guidance and hard work you put in with Keely. She basically learnt how to ride again and is now so much more confident and looking forward to enjoying Pepper.

I can highly recommend Mark Jones - he also teaches you, not just your horse.   Alison Hallett

Marni Peters

Over the past two years Mark has taught me many things. From being there with me step by step in breaking my first horse- a five year old Clydesdale- to assisting with a horse that has had previous experiences bucking. He will come and give a lesson to get me on my way with the next step. I am very grateful for what he has done for me and more so, the massive amount of knowledge and practical skills I have not only learnt from him, but taken away and will definitely use in the future.

Mark is an outstanding farrier and I have never personally had a problem with anything he has trimmed or shod. I have also never heard a bad word about him in the industry.

Mark is an exceptional horseman who continues to amaze and inspire me. He believes that he needs to get the most he can out of both horse and rider, whatever the case. He will give you an honest opinion on a problem horse which is essential in this industry. All horses returning from Marks are guaranteed to have excellent ground manners as well as a calm horse that will be supple and lovely to ride. He is also a great friend and I would recommend him to anyone for breaking, retraining and farrier work.

Jo and Torah

Torah is my first dabble at breeding. As soon as she was born we just connected. Sounds like a cliche, but its true. I knew we were destined to be a team.
Our journey together is one that would take forever to explain, but to make it simple it feels as though Torah and I have been to the end of the earth and back.
When she was 2 she was introduced to a trainer who made lots and lots of promises. I was really excited about her learning more so that together we could go on to the next stage. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete disaster. My filly learnt nothing, I did my money and most of all I lost all trust in so called trainers.
Another 6 months past and I knew that there really wasn't alot more I could teach Torah, she also knew. She was ready to learn but I wasnt ready to let her go. In fact I was terrified at the prospect.

After searching on the internet for local trainers, I found Mark. His website spoke volumes. After making contact I have to admit I still wasn't entirely convinced, simply because of the bad experience I had with the previous trainer.
I explained my hesitation to Mark. I was really anxious, nervous and scared at the same time. Mark was very understanding and when he told me I could visit whenever I wanted and that he also works with the rider I was relieved.
I was also more than impressed by the way every stage of Torahs training was explained to me. If I could not be there I was always informed. My questions were always answered, no matter how silly they may have sounded.

It is now 3 weeks since Torah came home. We have ridden amongst some kangaroos and done flat work in the arena. We have also been on a few short trails. I cannot thank you enough Mark. The things you taught me about my horse are priceless. The gentle yet firm approach you take, you are a true horseman. And you were true to your word when you said you worked with horse and rider. I learnt just as much as Torah and not once did you tell me it was inconvenient to visit her.

Every time I saddle her up I think of Mark. She is patient, has fantastic brakes and more importantly she is an absolute pleasure to ride. We have lots to learn and I know that Mark will be there every step of the way. You have given me more confidence as a rider Mark and for that I thank you. I know I can call and pick your brain if I need to and I look forward to the follow up clinic, it will be our first outing together.

I am really proud of Torah and the way she has turned out. I know we will have a long and happy union. I am also very grateful to Mark, not only did he train my horse he also instilled some of my faith back into the human race.............

Jess & Wally

Since I commenced instruction with Mark Jones there has been immense improvement in my riding ability and my horse’s movement. Learning some of Mark's extensive knowledge and training methods has provided me with valuable training tools, giving me the confidence to handle any situation with my horse.

Mark is focused on achieving the best quality work from the horse and rider – improving rider neatness, ring craft and accuracy which are all essential in any discipline. Not only is Mark a valuable instructor, but also an experienced farrier who has maintained soundness in my problematic horse.

I am looking forward to many more lessons with Mark to improve and perfect Wally and I as a combination.

Paula Leslie & Spike

“Fellow horse enthusiasts save money and time by doing it right the first time around. I sent my horse Spike elsewhere first and paid dearly, ending up with a frightened timid hard to manage horse that I was told to give a bullet. After a few weeks of TLC and recovery he was sent to Mark, where he was treated with care and looked after like part of the family. Anything that needed doing was attended to (rugs, feeds, etc.).

I was able to check in on Spike and see how he was being trained, getting involved and learning much myself. He returned home when he was ready and my happy confident quiet horse was back with no nasty bad habits and ready for me to move on with him. Even when rides are a few weeks apart he is great.

I would highly recommend Mark, having seen the approach he uses and with the great horse that has returned to me, I would not hesitate sending anyone to him.”

Sonya Heron

“I have observed Mark Jone’s horse training methods over the last few years and have no hesitations in recommending him. I have been involved with horses and ponies for over thirty years. My riding has been predominantly in the European or “English” style, although in recent years I have begun to investigate the “western” style of riding. I enjoy both disciplines and can see the relative merits of each. My

About 3 years ago, I found myself in need of someone with the confidence and ability to handle and break-in an unhandled 3 year old quarter horse stallion that had been abandoned. Unless someone could be found willingly and able to take on the job, his future looked very bleak. Someone recommended Mark, so I gave him a call. He sounded quietly confident, so we went up to his property to watch him working some horses. I was most impressed with his firm but gentle manner with horses, whether on the ground or in the saddle.

So Mark spent an hour or so a day for the next two weeks working with ‘Spirit’ in the stockyards of a property next door to where he had been running wild since birth. It took Mark just 1.5 hrs to get the horse to accept a halter and four hours after first being handled, the horse was quiet enough to stand still while Mark ran his hands all over him. The horses trust in mark was absolute. At the end of the second week, we judged him quiet enough to be gelded, a job carried out with a minimum of fuss. Later that day the horse was loaded quietly and efficiently onto the float (another first) and taken up to Mark’s property to continue his education. I was impressed with the way that Mark accomplished this job.

We have sent other horses to Mark’s for breaking or training, each one handled slightly differently, according to their ability and previous amounts of training etc; but always with the same quiet, firm but gentle manner.

I’ve seen horses with all kinds of vices arrive on his property and watched them become putty in his hands.

I have also had Mark shoeing my horses and I have to say that he’s one of the most punctual, reliable farriers I’ve ever known.

In summary, after many years in the horse world, watching, listening and learning from all kinds of people. I have to say Mark Jones has impressed me a great deal as a trainer and farrier and have no hesitations in recommending him.”

Jessica Williams & Chatan

Just a few words to say how Mark changed my horse's and my attitude to make riding my horse a pleasure! I have a 17.1hh clydesdale cross standardbred 4yrs old named Chatan. I bought him when he was 3 and had been broken but he was still very green. Since the day I got him I have had trouble bridling him, he was fine with the saddle and had a lovely nature but he just knew he was big and by putting his head up he'd get away from me. I ended up standing on fences and buckets just to put his bridle on and I got very tired of that quickly as you can imagine. After 15 months of fighting with him I decided to seek professional help. I looked up horse breakers/trainers on the internet and found Mark Jones,  after talking with him he seemd very genuine and experienced and said he'd be more than willing to help. Within 2 weeks I had my horse at his training centre. His facilities were excellent and from the moment Chatan was off the float Mark was working with him. Mark was very thorough from the start and he showed me how to get Chatan wormed without him making a mess of me and actually getting the paste in his mouth. Within 2 weeks I already saw a difference in my horse. Chatan was listening and responding and I could bridle him standing on the ground - it was amazing. Chatan was never nasty but if he didn't want to do it he wouldn't and because of his size he mostly got away with it, Mark also taught me how to deal with that and make him listen. Mark really changed his attitude and he wanted to learn, he just needed a professional push. Chatan is such a pleasure now I couldn't be happier and to anyone else reading this thinking of re-training or breaking your horse, I highly recommend Mark Jones - he also teaches you, not just your horse
                THANKS SO MUCH MARK!
Jan Miller

“I recommend Mark Jones as a horse breaker and educator with every confidence. I have known Mark for many years and have seen first hand the job that he does. Not only are his horses broken to saddle; but also educated to road work and handled well.”